Hello! Welcome to Couch Surfer Crochet! We are now on Week 23 of the 2019 Block-A-Week Project! We will have 25 weeks in total (to make a 5×5 blanket). You can find the first few weeks here:
Block-A-Week 2019 – Squares
(all of the weeks are posted there)
The pattern for Week 23 will look like this when it’s finished!
As you may know, or could have guessed from the name of this site, I am obsessed with pop culture and am always on the search for a new, amazing show to watch. Since Game of Thrones recently ended, and Outlander doesn’t return until much later this year, I was searching for a new show to watch while I craft.
Enter Poldark! It’s originally a PBS Masterpiece series, but you can find all of the episodes on Amazon Prime. I’ve been bingeing this show the last couple of weeks, so the name of this square is inspired by my favorite character on the show.
I’m calling the square this week the “Demelza Square.” You can download it right here on Ravelry!
I’m using a size I/9 (5.5 mm) hook, and worsted weight size 4 yarn for every one of these squares to keep stitch sizing consistent. My squares don’t always look completely “square” at the end of each pattern. I intend to block them all at the end of this project before I sew them together!
The colors I used are:
Color 1: Impeccable Yarn in Bright Sky Blue
Color 2: Red Heart Super Saver in Pale Yellow
Color 3: Impeccable Yarn in Grape Punch
Color 4: Red Heart Jumbo in Pretty N’ Pink
Color 5: Red Heart Super Saver in Aruba Sea
This pattern does use the cluster stitch on Round 3 and Round 4
Beg 3dc cl*- First 3 double crochet cluster
Chain 3
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)
Yo and pull through all three loops on hook.
3dc cl – 3 double crochet cluster
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps on hook)
Yo and pull through all four loops on hook.
Beg 4dc cl* -First 4 double crochet cluster
Chain 3
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook),{yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (4lps on hook),yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps stay on hook)
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (5lps on hook),yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps stay on hook)
Yo and pull through all four loops on hook.
4dc cl – 4 double crochet cluster
Yo, insert hook in sp, yo, pull through space (3lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (2lps stay on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (4lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (3lps on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (5lps on hook), yo and pull through 2 lps (4lps on hook)
Yo, insert hook into same sp, yo, pull through (6lps on hook),{yo and pull through 2 lps (5lps on hook)
Yo and pull through all five loops on hook.
To begin: Ch 5, sl st to 1st ch to form circle
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in circle, fasten off
Round 2: (Start in any dc), Ch 4 (counts as dc & ch 1), dc, ch 1 into each of the next 15 st, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 4
Round 3: (start in any ch sp), Ch 3, beg cl st *(see special stitch instructions) ch2, {3dc cl, ch2} into each of the next 15 ch1 spaces, sl st to top of first cluster, fasten off
Round 4: (start in any ch sp), Ch 3, Beg 4dc cluster *ch 3, {4dc cl, ch 3} into each of the next 15 ch spaces, join with a sl st to top of the first cl, fasten off
Round 5: (start in any ch sp), Ch 4 (counts as tr), 2tr in same sp, *ch 2, 3tr in ch sp, repeat from * around, sl st to 4th ch of starting ch 4, fasten off
Round 6: (start in in any ch space), ch 1 **[5 sc, ch 1] in first ch space, (1 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc) ch 1 in next ch space, (2 dc, 2 trc, ch 2, 2 trc, 2 dc) ch 1 in next ch space, (2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc) ch 1 in next ch space, repeat from ** around, sl st to 1st sc, fasten off
Round 7: (start in corner), ch 3, [dc, ch 2, 2dc], * hdc in next 4 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, sc in next 5 stitches, sc in ch 1 sp, sc into next 5 stitches, hdc into ch 1 sp, hdc in next 4 stitches, [2dc ch2 2dc) in corner], repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3
Round 8: (start in corner), Ch 3, [2dc, ch 3, 3dc] in corner, * sk 3 st, 3dc in next st, repeat from * to corner, [3dc, ch 3, 3dc] in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3, fasten off
Round 9: (start in corner), Ch 3, [2dc, ch 3, 3dc] in corner, * sk 3 st, 3dc in sp between clusters, repeat from * to corner, [3dc, ch 3, 3dc] in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3, fasten off
Round 10: (start in corner), Ch 3, [2dc, ch 2, 3dc], * sk 3 st, ch 3, dc in sp between clusters, [3dc, ch 2, 3dc], repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd st of starting ch 3, fasten off
Round 11: (start in corner), ch 3, [2dc, ch 2, 3dc], * dc in next 3 st, 3dc in each ch sp across, dc in next 3 st, [3dc, ch 2, 3dc] in corner, repeat from * around, sl st to 3rd ch of starting ch 3, fasten off
And there you have the Demelza square! Those cluster stitches might seem tricky, but once you do it once or twice it starts to make sense. Due to the different stitches in all of these squares, they don’t look completely “square” when they are complete. I have found that using some type of blocking board always helps in projects that use specific shapes (squares, triangles, etc).
This is the system I use. These foam boards interlock so you can make a much bigger blocking space for a larger project. And because they are foam you can use pins to hold your squares in place. This pack comes with 100 T-pins for easy placement!
We will be adding a border to each square to ensure that each one is the same “size” around, since some of these squares have a different number of stitches around the edge! Then we will join all the squares together and add a border. 🙂 Click here to see that tutorial! If you don’t want to miss a post, sign up for the email list at the top right of the home page!
Please, please, please feel free to share your work with me! I would love to see your progress and finished pieces. Half the joy of creating is sharing it! You can post your work here in the comments, on my Facebook page, or you can join the Couch Surfer Crocheters FB Group!
If you are on Instagram and want to share there, please tag me @couchsurfercrochet and use the hashtag #blockaweek2019. I’m on Pinterest and Twitter as @couchsurferarts!
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Looking for other patterns to try?! Check out my ETSY shop or my Ravelry store! All of the squares I have designed for this project are available to download for free from Ravelry! This month I am donating 15% of all my sales to the animal shelter where we adopted our dog! The volunteers and staff there work so hard to keep all those doggos and kitties healthy and happy, and I wanted to give something back. 🙂
It’s already eighty degrees here in the afternoons, which means summer is right around the corner. Check out this group of color palettes inspired by summer! Or these summery colors! You never know where you might find colors that you love. Maybe you will find a color group that inspires you on your next project!